I IIIII
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US007577847B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Nguyen et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,577,847 B2
`Aug. 18, 2009
`
`(54) LOCATION AND USER IDENTIFICATION
`FOR ONLINE GAMING
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Binh Nguyen, Reno, NV (US); Craig
`Paulsen, Reno, NV (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: IGT, Reno, NV (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 896 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/981,435
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Nov. 3, 2004
`
`(65)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2006/0095790 AI
`
`May 4, 2006
`
`Int. Cl.
`G06F 21100
`(2006.01)
`U.S. Cl. ........................... 713/186; 713/182; 726/5;
`726/11; 726/21; 380/231; 380/251; 463/29
`Field of Classification Search ................. 713/186,
`713/182; 726/5, 11, 21; 380/231, 251; 463/29
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`5/2005 Leen eta!. .................... 463/16
`8/2005 Woodhill ....................... 726/5
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`wo
`
`WO 03/042830 A1
`
`5/2003
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`International Search Report, dated Mar. 16, 2006 from corresponding
`International Application No. PCT /US2005/03730 1, 6 pp. including
`Notification of Transmittal.
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner-David Garcia Cervetti
`(74)Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Weaver Austin Villeneuve &
`Sampson LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present invention provides methods and devices for
`determining the location, identity and age of a user who
`desires to initiate a gaming session from an uncontrolled
`environment such as a home, a gaming kiosk or a hotel room.
`In some implementations, the user's location is determined in
`part by reference to a database of land telephone lines and
`corresponding addresses. The location may be verified by
`other methods, e.g., by determining the location of an Internet
`service provider's network device that is near a user's host
`device or via a cellular telephone network. The user may be
`asked to input a confirmation number and/or make an oral
`response during a telephone call to a telephone number asso(cid:173)
`ciated with the uncontrolled environment. The user may also
`be prompted to make statements verifYing his or her identity,
`age, a maximum amount available for wagering or other
`statements.
`
`37 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`Player Log-in Process
`
`300
`
`;?"
`
`GAME SERVER SENDS
`PLAYER DATA TO THE
`VERIFICATION SERVER
`
`VERIFICATION SERVER PLACES A
`TELEPHONE CALL TO PLAYER AND
`COLLECTS VOICE RECORDINGS
`TO CREATE AN AUDIT TRAIL.
`DURING THE TELEPHONE CALL,
`THE PLAYER IS REQUIRED TO
`ENTER A RANDOMLY GENERATED
`CONFIRMATION NUMBER INTO A
`TELEPHONE KEYPAD.
`VERIFICATION SERVER CAPTURES
`PLAYER'S VOICE RECORDING
`
`TWILIO INC. Ex. 1007 Page 1
`
`

`
`US 7,577,847 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6,945,870 B2 *
`7,035,626 B1 *
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`7,308,251 B2 *
`7,357,717 B1 *
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`7,383,572 B2 *
`7,420,464 B2 *
`7,437,147 B1 *
`200110037211 A1 *
`2002/0111213 A1 *
`2002/0132663 A1 *
`2002/0142846 A1 *
`2002/0160834 A1 *
`2003/0006931 A1 *
`2003/0017871 A1 *
`2003/0031321 A1 *
`2003/0070100 A1
`2003/0073499 A1 *
`2003/0092489 A1 *
`2003/0139190 A1
`2003/0195037 A1 *
`2003/0217122 A1 *
`2003/0217151 A1 *
`2003/0225893 A1 *
`2003/0236120 A1 *
`2004/0053692 A1 *
`
`9/2005 Gatto et al .................... 463/29
`4/2006 Luciano, Jr .............. 455/414.1
`... .. ... ... ... ... .. 707/9
`8/2006 Roese et a!.
`2/2007 Cumbers . ... .. ... ... ... ... .. . 463/29
`5/2007 Hind eta!. ............... 455/456.1
`5/2007 Multerer eta!. ............. 380/251
`6/2007 McNutt eta!. ................ 463/29
`7/2007 Cummings eta!. .......... 375/295
`10/2007 Karmarkar ................... 463/42
`12/2007 Karaoguz ................... 455/411
`4/2008 Cumbers . ... .. ... ... ... ... .. . 463/29
`4/2008 Kanevsky eta!. ............. 726/21
`6/2008 Rolfe ............................ 726/5
`9/2008 Fitzgerald et al ....... 340/539.13
`10/2008 Luciano, Jr .............. 455/414.1
`1112001 McNuttetal. ................. 705/1
`8/2002 McEntee eta!. .............. 463/42
`9/2002 Cumbers . ... .. ... ... ... ... .. . 463/25
`10/2002 Paulsen ... ... .. ... ... ... ... .. . 463/43
`10/2002 Urie et a!. ..................... 463/29
`112003 Mages ................... 342/357.06
`112003 Urie et a!. ..................... 463/29
`2/2003 Mages ........................ 380/270
`4/2003 Winkler
`4/2003 Reece .. ... ... .. ... ... ... ... .. . 463/42
`5/2003 Veradej
`... .. ... ... ... ... ... .. . 463/36
`7/2003 Steel berg et a!.
`10/2003 Vuong et a!. .................. 463/29
`................ 709/219
`1112003 Roese et a!.
`1112003 Roese et a!.
`................ 709/225
`12/2003 Roese eta!.
`................ 709/227
`12/2003 Reece eta!.
`.................. 463/42
`3/2004 Chatigny eta!. .............. 463/36
`
`2004/0098588 A1 *
`2004/0121841 A1 *
`2004/0203908 A1 *
`2004/0224755 A1 *
`2004/0259626 A1 *
`2005/0038825 A1 *
`2005/0054438 A1 *
`2005/0066044 A1 *
`2005/0091338 A1 *
`2005/0137006 A1 *
`2005/0187020 A1 *
`2005/0193209 A1 *
`2006/0052162 A1 *
`2007/0060319 A1 *
`2007/0063037 A1 *
`2007/0066347 A1 *
`2007/0099698 A1 *
`2007/0190494 A1 *
`2008/0254877 A1 *
`2008/0278772 A1 *
`2009/0088206 A1 *
`2009/0093897 A1 *
`
`5/2004 Ohba et al .................. 713/169
`6/2004 Xidos eta!. ................... 463/40
`10/2004 Hind eta!. ............... 455/456.1
`1112004 Tallal, Jr. . ... ... ... .. ... ... ... 463/25
`12/2004 Akram eta!. ................. 463/17
`2/2005 Tarabzouni eta!. ......... 707/200
`3/2005 Rothschild et a!. ............ 463/29
`3/2005 Chaskar et al.
`. ............ 709/230
`4/2005 de Ia Huerga ............... 709/217
`6/2005 Rothschild et a!. ............ 463/20
`8/2005 Amaitis eta!. ................ 463/42
`9/2005 Saunders et al ............. 713/182
`3/2006 Soukup eta!. ................ 463/27
`3/2007 Block et a!. ................... 463/27
`3/2007 Silverbrook eta!. ........ 235/432
`3/2007 Silverbrook eta!. ..... 455/556.1
`5/2007 Cole . ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... 463/29
`8/2007 Rosenberg .. ... ... .. ... ... ... 434/11
`10/2008 Morrow ....................... 463/29
`1112008 Silverbrook eta!. ........ 358/473
`4/2009 Silverbrook eta!. ..... 455/556.1
`4/2009 Lap stun et a!. ................ 700/94
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, dated Mar.
`16, 2006 from corresponding International Application No. PCT/
`US2005/037301, 6 pp.
`AuthentifY, Authentity/Register, www.authentifY.com, printed Jun.
`28, 2005, 2 pages.
`Matt Richtel, Launch of Wet gambling puts MGM Mirage in the hot
`seat, Appendix, New York Times News Service, Sep. 30, 2002, 2
`pages.
`* cited by examiner
`
`TWILIO INC. Ex. 1007 Page 2
`
`

`
`:---------------
`: ~ ( ( ((
`..s 155
`1 ~ (y
`
`I
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`I
`I
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`150
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`145 135 130
`
`Local
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`115-...
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`INTERNET
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`181
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`132
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`187
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`
`107
`
`120
`
`IY
`
`I
`
`FIG. 1
`
`TWILIO INC. Ex. 1007 Page 3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 18, 2009
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 7,577,847 B2
`
`Online Player Registration Process
`
`( START
`1
`(205
`PLAYER LOGS INTO GAMING
`SERVER OR KIOSK AND
`BEGINS THE ONLINE
`REGISTRATION PROCESS
`1
`SPECIFIC PLAYER DATA,
`INCLUDING TELEPHONE NUMBER,
`ARE ENCRYPTED AND SENT
`FROM THE GAME TERMINAL TO
`THE GAME SERVER
`
`(210
`
`I
`
`VALIDITY AND
`CHARACTERIZATION OF THE
`PLAYER'S PHONE NUMBER,
`ALONG WITH RELATED
`GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION, ARE
`VERIFIED BY THE GAME SERVER
`
`1
`
`(220
`
`GAME SERVER SENDS
`PLAYER DATA TO THE
`VERIFICATION SERVER
`
`VERIFICATION SERVER PLACES A
`TELEPHONE CALL TO PLAYER AND
`COLLECTS VOICE RECORDINGS
`TO CREATE AN AUDIT TRAIL.
`DURING THE TELEPHONE CALL,
`THE PLAYER IS REQUIRED TO
`ENTER A RANDOMLY GENERATED
`CONFIRMATION NUMBER INTO A
`TELEPHONE KEYPAD.
`VERIFICATION SERVER CAPTURES
`PLAYER'S VOICE RECORDING.
`T
`
`200
`
`;:;
`
`1
`
`(230
`
`AFTER COMPLETION
`OF THE TELEPHONE
`CALL, VERIFICATION
`SERVER RETURNS
`VOICE DATA AND
`PHONE SESSION
`OUTCOME TO GAME
`SERVER.
`
`~
`
`,.,.-235
`
`GAME SERVER COMPARES
`PLAYER DATA COLLECTED
`WITH APPROVAL
`CRITERIA. ADDITIONAL
`IDENTIFICATION
`INFORMATION MAY ALSO
`BE NEEDED.
`
`240
`
`N
`
`(250
`
`END
`
`EGISTRA TIO
`APPROVED?
`
`y
`STORE PLAYER-
`
`,.,.-245
`
`r 250
`SPECIFIC DATA INTO K END)
`
`THE GAMING
`SERVER DATABASE
`
`FIG. 2
`
`TWILIO INC. Ex. 1007 Page 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 18, 2009
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`US 7,577,847 B2
`
`Player Log-in Process
`
`START
`
`PLAYER LOGS INTO GAMING
`SERVER
`
`305
`
`310
`
`SPECIFIC PLAYER ID AND
`PASSWORD ARE ENCRYPTED
`AND SENT FROM THE GAME
`TERMINAL TO THE GAME SERVER
`
`VALIDITY AND
`CHARACTERIZATION OF THE
`PLAYER'S PHONE NUMBER,
`ALONG WITH RELATED
`GEOGRAPHIC
`INFORMATION, IS VERIFIED
`BY THE GAME SERVER
`
`325
`
`330
`
`GAME SERVER SENDS
`PLAYER DATA TO THE
`VERIFICATION SERVER
`L---------~------~335
`
`VERIFICATION SERVER PLACES A
`TELEPHONE CALL TO PLAYER AND
`COLLECTS VOICE RECORDINGS
`TO CREATE AN AUDIT TRAIL.
`DURING THE TELEPHONE CALL,
`THE PLAYER IS REQUIRED TO
`ENTER A RANDOMLY GENERATED
`CONFIRMATION NUMBER INTO A
`TELEPHONE KEYPAD.
`VERIFICATION SERVER CAPTURES
`PLAYER'S VOICE RECORDING.
`
`300
`
`;;;
`
`FIG. 3
`
`320
`PLAYER ENTERS THE
`PHONE NUMBER FROM
`PLAYER'S CURRENT
`LOCATION
`
`340
`
`345
`
`AFTER COMPLETION
`OF THE TELEPHONE
`CALL, VERIFICATION
`SERVER RETURNS
`VOICE DATA AND
`PHONE SESSION
`OUTCOME TO GAME
`SERVER.
`
`GAME SERVER
`COMPARES PLAYER
`DATA COLLECTED
`WITH THE STORED
`DATABASE DATA.
`
`PLAYER IS
`AUTHENTICATED TO
`PLAY GAMES.
`
`TWILIO INC. Ex. 1007 Page 5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 18, 2009
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 7,577,847 B2
`
`Start
`
`445
`
`FIG. 4
`
`TWILIO INC. Ex. 1007 Page 6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 18, 2009
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`US 7,577,847 B2
`
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`TWILIO INC. Ex. 1007 Page 7
`
`

`
`US 7,577,847 B2
`
`1
`LOCATION AND USER IDENTIFICATION
`FOR ONLINE GAMING
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to online gaming. More par(cid:173)
`ticularly, the present invention relates to methods and devices
`for determining whether a user is authorized to participate in
`online gaming.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`or her identity, age, a maximum amount available for wager(cid:173)
`ing or other statements, which are preferably recorded and
`stored.
`Some implementations of the invention provide a gaming
`authentication method. The method includes the steps of
`receiving a request to initiate a gaming session from a user,
`the gaming session comprising the following steps: receiving
`a wager on a game; determining an outcome for the game; and
`presenting the outcome of the game. The method also
`10 includes these steps: ascertaining whether the user is in a
`location for which the gaming session would be permitted;
`determining a telephone number associated with the location;
`placing a telephone call to the telephone number; prompting
`the user for a biometric response; and verifying whether the
`15 user is an authorized user based in part on the biometric
`response. The biometric response may be, for example, a
`voice response, fingerprint data, retinal scan data, facial rec(cid:173)
`ognition data and/or hand shape data. The method may
`involve initiating the gaming session when the user is an
`20 authorized user.
`The method may also include the steps of prompting the
`user to enter a confirmation number and verifying that the
`user has entered the confirmation number. The verifying step
`may involve storing (e.g., making a first recording of) the
`25 biometric response. The verifYing step may also involve ana(cid:173)
`lyzing the biometric response to determine first characteris(cid:173)
`tics and comparing the first characteristics with second char(cid:173)
`acteristics of the user. The verifying step may include
`verifYing that the user is old enough to participate in the
`30 gaming session according to laws applicable to the location.
`The verifYing step may involve verifYing that a bet size, a
`session time, a maximum prize allowed, a time of day for
`gaming or a purse size is permissible according to laws appli(cid:173)
`cable to the location.
`The ascertaining step may involve determining positioning
`data associated with a cellular telephone and/or determining
`an address associated with the telephone number. The ascer(cid:173)
`taining step may include determining a user location and
`comparing the user location with a list oflocations for which
`gaming may be conducted from an uncontrolled gaming en vi(cid:173)
`ronment.
`The prompting step may involvepromptingtheuserto state
`an amount of money that the user will authorize for the
`gaming session, prompting the user to state the user's identity,
`prompting the user to state a maximum amount of time that
`the user will be authorized to spend for the gaming session,
`prompting the user to make sounds and/or to say words that
`were (or were not) recorded during a user registration process
`and/or prompting the user to say words in a first sequence that
`50 were recorded in a second sequence during a user registration
`process.
`The step of determining a user location can include the
`steps of determining a location of a network device in the
`vicinity of a host device operated by the user and comparing
`the location of the network device with the address associated
`with the telephone number. The method can also include the
`step of determining whether an account associated with the
`user contains an amount of money authorized by the user.
`Alternative implementations of the invention provide a
`computer program embodied in a machine-readable medium.
`The computer program includes instructions for controlling
`at least one network device to receive a request to initiate a
`gaming session from a user, the gaming session comprising:
`receiving a wager on a game; determining an outcome for the
`65 game; and presenting the outcome of the game. The computer
`program also includes instructions for controlling at least one
`network device to perform the following steps: ascertain
`
`Historically, certain types of gaming have been conducted
`with controlled environments such as casinos, card rooms, or
`similar gaming establishments. Offering games of chance in
`controlled environments allows the gaming establishment to
`verifY a player's identity, age, etc.
`However, in recent years, a number of gaming establish(cid:173)
`ments have begun providing some games of chance to users
`who are located in uncontrolled environments, such as the
`user's home, a hotel room, etc. These gaming establishments
`will be referred to herein as "Internet casinos," although those
`of skill in the art will realize that Internet casinos are not
`casinos in a traditional sense and that Internet casinos may be
`accessed via networks other than the Internet. Typically,
`Internet casinos are groups of network devices (e.g., servers)
`that are configured to conduct games of chance, such as
`blackjack, video poker, etc., by interacting with a host device
`over a public network such as the Internet. This process will
`be referred to herein as "Internet gaming," whether or not the
`public network is the Internet and whether or not the gaming
`activity spans a state's border. The host device may be a
`gaming kiosk, a personal computer, a personal digital assis(cid:173)
`tant, a cellular telephone, or another such host device.
`Currently, federal law prohibits the offering of casino and 35
`sports wagers to residents of the United States across state
`lines via telephone or the Internet. The public policy grounds
`for these legal prohibitions include the difficulty in determin(cid:173)
`ing a player's identity and age, as well as determining
`whether the player is located in a jurisdiction within which 40
`such wagers would be permitted if made in person. However,
`it is anticipated that Internet gaming will eventually be
`offered within certain jurisdictions (e.g., within the state of
`Nevada) and possibly between jurisdictions that allow gam(cid:173)
`ing. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide improved 45
`systems for determining the identity, age and location of a
`player who desires to participate in Internet gaming.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides methods and devices for
`determining the location, identity and age of a user who
`desires to initiate a gaming session from an uncontrolled
`environment such as a gaming kiosk, a home or a hotel room.
`In some implementations, the user's location is determined in 55
`part by reference to a database of land telephone lines and
`corresponding addresses. The location may be verified by
`reference to a location determined by other methods, e.g., by
`determining the location of an Internet service provider's
`network device that is near a user's host device. In other 60
`implementations, the user's location is determined by infor(cid:173)
`mation provided by a cellular telephone network. The user
`may be asked to input a confirmation number and/or make an
`oral response during a telephone call to a telephone number
`associated with the uncontrolled environment. These the oral
`response may be analyzed to verifY the user's identity. The
`user may also be prompted to make statements verifying his
`
`TWILIO INC. Ex. 1007 Page 8
`
`

`
`US 7,577,847 B2
`
`4
`to initiate a gaming session from an uncontrolled gaming
`environment; ascertain whether the user is in a location for
`which the gaming session would be permitted; determine a
`telephone number associated with the location; place a tele(cid:173)
`phone call to the telephone number; prompt the user for a
`biometric response; verifY whether the user is an authorized
`user based in part on the biometric response; and send a
`message to the gaming server indicating whether the user is
`an authorized user and whether the user is in a location for
`10 which the gaming session would be permitted.
`The gaming session involves: receiving a wager on a game;
`determining an outcome for the game; and presenting the
`outcome of the game. At least one logic device is further
`configured to prompt the user to enter a confirmation number
`15 and verifY that the user has entered the confirmation number.
`The verifYing step may involve making a first recording of
`the biometric response, analyzing the biometric response to
`determine first characteristics and comparing the first char(cid:173)
`acteristics with second characteristics of the user. The bio-
`20 metric response may be a voice response, fingerprint data,
`retinal scan data, facial recognition data and/or hand shape
`data.
`Other embodiments of the invention provide a network
`device, including: at least one port configured for communi(cid:173)
`cation with a network; and at least one logic device config(cid:173)
`ured to perform the following steps: receive a request to
`initiate a gaming session, the request being from a user in an
`uncontrolled gaming environment; send an authentication
`request regarding the user to a verification server, the authen(cid:173)
`tication request including a telephone number associated with
`the uncontrolled gaming environment; receive an authentica-
`tion response from the verification server; and initiate the
`gaming session when the authentication response indicates
`that the user is an authorized user and that the uncontrolled
`gaming environment is an authorized location. The gaming
`session involves receiving a wager on a game, determining an
`outcome for the game and presenting the outcome of the
`game.
`These and other features of the present invention will be
`presented in more detail in the following detailed description
`of the invention and the associated figures.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`3
`whether the user is in a location for which the gaming session
`would be permitted; determine a telephone number associ(cid:173)
`ated with the location; place a telephone call to the telephone
`number; prompt the user for a biometric response; and verify
`whether the user is an authorized user based in part on the
`biometric response. The biometric response may be a voice
`response, fingerprint data, retinal scan data, facial recognition
`data and/or hand shape data.
`The computer program may also include instructions for
`controlling at least one network device to perform the follow(cid:173)
`ing steps: prompt the user to enter a confirmation number;
`verifY that the user has entered the confirmation number and
`initiate the gaming session when the user is an authorized
`user.
`The verifYing step may involve storing (e.g., making a first
`recording of) the biometric response, analyzing the biometric
`response to determine first characteristics and/or comparing
`the first characteristics with second characteristics of the user.
`Other embodiments of the invention provide an integrated
`circuit operable to control a network device to receive a
`request to initiate a gaming session from a user, the gaming
`session comprising: receiving a wager on a game; determin(cid:173)
`ing an outcome for the game; and presenting the outcome of
`the game. The integrated circuit is also operable to control the
`network device to perform the following steps: ascertain 25
`whether the user is in a location for which the gaming session
`would be permitted; determine a telephone number associ(cid:173)
`ated with the location; place a telephone call to the telephone
`number; prompt the user for a biometric response; and verify
`whether the user is an authorized user based in part on the 30
`biometric response.
`The biometric response may be a voice response, finger(cid:173)
`print data, retinal scan data, facial recognition data and/or
`hand shape data. The integrated circuit may be an application(cid:173)
`specific integrated circuit. Related embodiments of the inven- 35
`tion provide a set of semiconductor processing masks repre(cid:173)
`sentative of at least a portion of the integrated circuit.
`Yet other embodiments of the invention provide a network
`device having at least one port configured for communication
`with a network and at least one logic device configured to 40
`receive a request to initiate a gaming session from a user, the
`gaming session including: receiving a wager on a game;
`determining an outcome for the game; and presenting the
`outcome of the game. At least one logic device of the network
`device is also configured to perform the following steps: 45
`ascertain whether the user is in a location for which the
`gaming session would be permitted; determine a telephone
`number associated with the location; place a telephone call to
`the telephone number; prompt the user for a biometric
`response; verify whether the user is an authorized user based
`in part on the biometric response; and initiate the gaming
`session when the user is an authorized user. The biometric
`response may be a voice response, fingerprint data, retinal
`scan data, facial recognition data and/or hand shape data.
`At least one logic device of the network device may be
`further configured to prompt the user to enter a confirmation
`number and verifY that the user has entered the confirmation
`number. The verifYing step may involve storing (e.g., making
`a first recording of) the biometric response. The verifying step
`may involve: analyzing the biometric response to determine
`first characteristics; and comparing the first characteristics
`with second characteristics of the user.
`Still other embodiments of the invention provide a network
`device that includes at least one port configured for commu(cid:173)
`nication with a network and at least one logic device config- 65
`ured to perform the following steps: receive a request from a
`gaming server to authenticate a user who has made a request
`
`The invention may best be understood by reference to the
`following description taken in conjunction with the accom(cid:173)
`panying drawings, which are illustrative of specific embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the present invention.
`FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network for providing
`50 Internet gaming according to some embodiments of the
`invention.
`FIG. 2 is a flow chart that illustrates player registration
`according to some implementations of the invention.
`FIG. 3 is a flow chart that illustrates a player log-in process
`55 according to some implementations of the invention.
`FIG. 4 is a flow chart that illustrates a log-in process for
`players using mobile telephones according to some imple(cid:173)
`mentations of the invention.
`FIG. 5 illustrates a network device that may be used to
`60 implement some aspects of the invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`Reference will now be made in detail to some specific
`embodiments of the invention including the best modes con(cid:173)
`templated by the inventors for carrying out the invention.
`
`TWILIO INC. Ex. 1007 Page 9
`
`

`
`US 7,577,847 B2
`
`5
`Examples of these specific embodiments are illustrated in the
`accompanying drawings. While the invention is described in
`conjunction with these specific embodiments, it will be
`understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the
`described embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to
`cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be
`included within the spirit and scope of the invention as
`defined by the appended claims. Moreover, numerous spe(cid:173)
`cific details are set forth below in order to provide a thorough
`understanding of the present invention. The present invention 10
`may be practiced without some or all of these specific details.
`In other instances, well known process operations have not
`been described in detail in order not to obscure the present
`invention.
`The present invention provides methods and devices for
`determining the location, identity and age of a user (also
`referred to herein as a "player" or a "client") who desires to
`initiate a gaming session from an uncontrolled environment.
`The uncontrolled environment may be stationary, such as a
`gaming kiosk, a home or a hotel room. In such stationary 20
`environments, the user may wish to initiate a gaming session
`from a desktop computer, a laptop, or a similar device. In
`some implementations, if the user's location is fixed, the
`location will be determined in part by reference to a database
`of land telephone lines and corresponding addresses. The 25
`location may be verified by reference to a location determined
`by other methods, e.g., by use of a "traceroute" or similar
`program to determine the location of an Internet service pro(cid:173)
`vider's network device that is near a user's host device.
`The user may be asked to input a confirmation number
`and/or make an oral response during a telephone call to a
`telephone number associated with the uncontrolled environ(cid:173)
`ment. The oral response may be analyzed, e.g., according to
`known voice biometrics of a user obtained during a registra- 35
`tion process, to verify the user's identity. The user may also be
`prompted to make statements verifying his or her identity,
`age, a maximum amount available for wagering or other
`statements, which are preferably recorded and stored.
`However, a user's location may sometimes change during
`the course of a gaming session. Therefore, in some imple(cid:173)
`mentations, a user's location is determined in other ways,
`e.g., by reference to positioning information provided by a
`cellular telephone network. For example, if the user is called
`on a cellular telephone to verifY his or her identity, it may be 45
`presumed that the user's location could change during the
`gaming session. The location is preferably checked again
`during the gaming session (if one is established) in order to
`ensure that the player is still within a jurisdiction that allows
`online gaming.
`Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary network for imple(cid:173)
`menting some embodiments of the invention will be dis(cid:173)
`cussed. Client 105 is in uncontrolled environment 107, which
`includes client device 110 (here, a laptop computer) and
`telephone 155. Although client device 110 is a laptop in this
`example, client device 110 could be any of a wide variety of
`devices, such as a cellular telephone, a hand-held computer
`(e.g., a personal digital assistant), a kiosk, an in-room game
`terminal, a desktop computer, etc., that includes the hardware
`and software needed for Internet gaming. In general, client 60
`device 110 will include at least a memory, a processing
`device, a display, at least one input device and at least one
`communication interface. The display may be a CRT, LCD,
`LED, plasma, or any other suitable display. The input
`device(s) may include a mouse, a keyboard, one or more 65
`devices for processing voice commands, or other devices
`known by those of skill in the art.
`
`6
`During the course of a game, a player may be required to
`make a number of decisions, which affect the outcome of the
`game. For example, a player may vary his or her wager on a
`particular game, select a prize for a particular game, or make
`game decisions regarding gaming criteria that affect the out(cid:173)
`come of a particular game. The player may make these
`choices using a keyboard, a mouse, a video display screen, a
`voice command or some other device which enables a player
`to input information into client device 110.
`Local Internet service provider ("ISP") 115 provides client
`device 110 access to network 120, which is the Internet in this
`example. Although not shown in FIG. 1, it will be understood
`that local ISP 115 can provide Internet access to many clients
`and that local ISP 115 is one of many ISPs providing Internet
`15 access. Therefore, client 105 is one of a potentially large
`number of clients who may participate in Internet gaming at
`any given time.
`It will be understood by those of skill in the art that network
`120 could be another type of network (such as a satellite
`network, a wireless network, a metro optical transport, etc.)
`Accordingly, a variety of protocols may be used for commu-
`nication on network 120, such as Internet Protocol ("IP"),
`Fibre Channel ("FC"), FC over IP ("FCIP"), Internet SCSI
`("iSCSI," an IP-based standard for linking data storage
`devices over a network and transferring data by carrying SCSI
`commands over IP networks), Dense Wavelength Division
`Multiplexing ("DWDM," an optical technology used to
`increase bandwidth over existing fiber optic backbones), or
`Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA, a wireless cellular
`communication technology).
`Internet casino 125 includes a variety of devices adapted to
`present gaming events to clients via network 120 and to
`perform related functions. In this example, Internet casino
`125 includes several network devices, such as game servers
`130, verification server 135, gateway 124 and accounting/
`financial server 187. Although the devices that constitute
`Internet casino 125 do not need to be in the same physical
`location, for the sake of simplicity the embodiment oflnternet
`casino 125 depicted in FIG. 1 does have all devices in a single
`40 location. Here, gateway 124 is a network device with network
`address tran